Though fares have been revised, many vehicles are running by old meters. This is because the holiday season saw several of their owners go to their hometowns and they could not recalibrate their meters. The unavailability of electronic chips at RTOs also contributed to the delay.

From October 1, the minimum fare for travelling in taxis and autos was hiked to Rs 28 and Rs 23 respectively, a jump of Rs 3 for the former and Rs 2 for the latter.

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Recalibration hurdles need to be addressed as arguments between commuters and drivers about adhering to the fares are common. Some commuters believe they are entitled to pay the old fares as that is what the meter shows, never mind what the new rate card says. Some drivers, and we must stress are not all, refuse to show the card to the passenger, stating they have misplaced it or they are in a hurry and people pay up.

Frayed tempers,  traffic snarls and  people feeling cheated lead to combustible situations. Authorities and stakeholders must work together to de-tangle the recalibration knot. Let us become a city that is justifiably proud of paying by the meter.